Mistborn Reading Order

Here's the correct Mistborn reading order: every book in the right order, where to start, and answers to common questions.

Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn is set in a world where metals grant magical powers. It's told in two eras: the original heist-and-revolution trilogy, then a second 'Wax and Wayne' quartet set 300 years later. Both are part of the larger Cosmere.

Our Recommendation: Read Both Eras in Order Start with The Final Empire and read Era 1 first, then Era 2. Era 2 assumes you know the ending of Era 1 — reading them out of order spoils the trilogy's biggest reveals.

Era 1: The Original Trilogy

  1. The Final EmpireBuy NowAudible2006
  2. The Well of AscensionBuy NowAudible2007
  3. The Hero of AgesBuy NowAudible2008
Own the Complete Series Buying the whole series at once is usually cheaper than individual books, and box sets make a great gift. See Mistborn box set options on Amazon ›

Era 2: Wax and Wayne

Set 300 years later in an industrial-age version of the same world. Read after Era 1.

  1. The Alloy of LawBuy NowAudible2011
  2. Shadows of SelfBuy NowAudible2015
  3. The Bands of MourningBuy NowAudible2016
  4. The Lost MetalBuy NowAudible2022

Optional: Mistborn: Secret History (2016) is a novella that reveals what happened behind the scenes of Era 1. It spoils the trilogy, so read it after The Hero of Ages — most fans slot it in after The Bands of Mourning. See Secret History on Amazon ›

Finished Mistborn? See what to read after Mistborn: The Stormlight Archive, Cosmere, The Gentleman Bastard Sequence and more, each with its correct reading order.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the correct Mistborn reading order?

Read Both Eras in Order. Start with The Final Empire and read Era 1 first, then Era 2. Era 2 assumes you know the ending of Era 1 — reading them out of order spoils the trilogy's biggest reveals.

Is the Mistborn series finished?

No. Era 1 and Era 2 are finished. Brandon Sanderson plans more Mistborn eras, none dated yet.

Do I need to read the Cosmere to understand Mistborn?

No. Mistborn stands completely on its own. It's part of Sanderson's connected Cosmere universe, but you can read it with zero other Cosmere knowledge and miss nothing essential.

Should I read Era 1 or Era 2 first?

Era 1 first, always. Era 2 is set centuries later and treats the ending of Era 1 as established history, so reading it first spoils the original trilogy.

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